Abstract

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Prevention and screening have allowed CRC rates to plateau in several countries; however, CRC continues to be challenging to treat and often leaves patients with chronic pain. Conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation, often result in resistant disease further complicating treatment. Consequentially, interest in novel immunotherapeutic treatments has grown substantially within the past few decades to provide additional treatment options. Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cells are an especially attractive strategy to add to the immunotherapy toolbox because of the successful treatment of hematological malignancies. However, CAR-T cell therapy faces several additional challenges when applied to treating solid tumors, including CRC. Modifying the CAR-T cell design and understanding obstacles associated with the Tumor Microenvironment (TME) may present ways to improve current CAR-T cell treatments for CRC. In this mini-review, we discuss the evolution of CAR-T cells, molecular biology of the TME, target selection, and CRC targets in preclinical and clinical trial stages.

Keywords: CAR-T cell therapy; Checkpoint inhibitors; Colorectal cancer; Tumor microenvironment